Each year, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) hosts a series of WE Local conferences worldwide, fostering connections among engineers, industry leaders, and employers. This year, the organization successfully conducted five WE Local conferences.
In April, the WE Local conference in Prague attracted over 530 participants at the Clarion Congress Hotel. This engaging event provided numerous interaction opportunities, such as a career fair, professional development sessions, networking events, and a collegiate poster competition. For more details on the 2025 WE Local Collegiate Competition winners, refer to this blog post.
Insights from the 2025 WE Local Conference in Prague
Although many attendees hailed from Czechia, the conference also welcomed participants from over 31 regions, showcasing a global presence with representatives from countries including Egypt, Nigeria, Ireland, Italy, Poland, the U.K., and the U.S.
The composition of attendees reflected a diverse range of experience levels:
- 22.7% had 1-5 years of experience
- 18.4% had 6-10 years of experience
- 16.4% had 11-15 years of experience
Participants came from various engineering fields, with the largest representation in mechanical engineering (23.7%), followed closely by non-technical disciplines (23.2%) and telecommunications (18.9%). The predominant professional levels included:
- Technical specialists (17.9%)
- Individual contributors (15.7%)
- Senior technical specialists (12%)
“WE Local is the perfect event to surround yourself with inspirational women and allies, and learn top-tier tips from motivating speakers to help you navigate a successful career and life.” — WE Local Prague attendee
The conference featured a keynote address from Ann-Kristin de Verdier, executive managing director – DBU Europe at Cummins Inc. She emphasized the importance of leadership and resilience in promoting women’s advancement in STEM fields. Alessandra Faria, Strategic Partners – International at Motorola Solutions, delivered the closing keynote, drawing on her 35 years of experience in telecommunications, information technology, and electronic security.
Participating partner organizations at WE Local Prague included 20 different representatives from the engineering and technology sectors. Attendees had opportunities to network with leading companies during breakout sessions and events. Explore over 1,300 photos from the event in our Flickr album.
Interested in joining SWE at future conferences? Visit the WE Local website for upcoming event details, including dates and locations for 2026. We also welcome you to attend WE25, our annual conference scheduled for this October in New Orleans.
